'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Investigating the Role of Religious Specialists in the Early Minoan Tholos Cemeteries of South-Central Crete

A groundbreaking study challenges the traditional view of religious specialists in Minoan Crete, arguing that they were craft experts integral to early tholos cemeteries. These monumental structures, among the island's first, served as centers for mortuary rituals and religious practices, reflecting evolving belief systems. Through landscape archaeology and architectural energetics, the research reveals that these cemeteries required coordinated labor and sensory manipulation, suggesting a sophisticated role for specialists in translating religious ideologies into built spaces. The findings reshape our understanding of early Minoan society by highlighting the significance of craft production and communal architecture in shaping religious experiences.

Gaynor, J. (2024). 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' Investigating the Role of Religious Specialists in the Early Minoan Tholos Cemeteries of South-Central Crete. University of Liverpool Repository. https://doi.org/10.17638/03041786